The scanner design is a low-cost resource for demonstrating concepts like magnetic resonance, spatial encoding, and the Fourier transform in an educational setting. The system was first used in MIT's undergraduate course 6.S02 - Intro to EECS II from a Medical Technology Perspective. Most of the components are open source designs.

The project was made possible through a collaboration between MGH, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (who built the magnets), Pascal Stang of Stanford University (who provided the MEDUSA console), and Maxim Zaitsev's group at the University of Freiburg (who designed the gradient coil traces). During fabrication we also benefited from access to the equipment and resources of the Center for Bits and Atoms at the MIT Media Lab.